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Andrus isn't concerned about free agency talk

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By T.R. Sullivan

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus still has two years to go on his contract before he can be a free agent. But that hasn't kept his impending free agency from becoming a hot topic of discussion this winter.

"I feel good .. I'm not going to think about that," Andrus said. "You hear a lot of rumors but that's part of the game. I'm focused on preparing for the season, I'm not putting thought into that."

Andrus' status is an issue because the Rangers are loaded with shortstop prospects. Jurickson Profar and Leury Garcia are in big league camp and Luis Sardinas is not far behind. Andrus' agent, Scott Boras, has a reputation for leading his clients to free agency and signing elsewhere.

There are even those who see Andrus as the eventual successor to Derek Jeter as the Yankees' shortstop.

"It's my career and he's going to do the best for me," Andrus said of his agent. "I'm here and ready to go. I'd love to stay here for a long period of time if we can put something together that's good for me and good for the team. We're going to continue to talk. We've still got two years."

Andrus arrived in camp on Thursday but won't be here long. He is playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and will join his team later this month. His WBC participation comes after playing 40 games of winter ball in Venezuela. He had October off like the rest of his teammates and did not play in the Caribbean World Series, but Andrus is still playing a lot of baseball leading up to Opening Day.

"I feel good," Andrus said. "I know I've played a lot but I actually took a month, month and a half off. I'm just 24. Sometimes you guys make me look like I'm 30, but I'm still young."